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What was it really like living in Kowloon Walled City?

25 Apr 2013

Kowloon Walled City was home to 50,000 residents and was controversial since 1898, when it was the only part of Hong Kong which the imperial Chinese government refused to hand over to the British. Throughout the chaos of the 20th century, mainland governments of whatever hue maintained that the site was sovereign Chinese land. It became a lawless area, a favourite base for illegal immigrants and famous for its prostitutes, opium dens and unlicensed dentists. The British and Chinese governments eventually agreed the Walled City's fate in 1987 and it was demolished in 1993.